友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!
合租小说网 返回本书目录 加入书签 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 『收藏到我的浏览器』

the wandering jew, volume 5-第6部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完,想下次继续接着阅读,可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能!


said Faringhea; 〃from Djalma; I could now only expect alms and disdain
for; with a character like this; to say to him; ‘Pay me; because I might
have betrayed you and did not;' would be to provoke his anger and
contempt。  I could have killed him twenty times over; but his day is not
yet come;〃 said the Thug; with a gloomy air; 〃and to wait for that and
other fatal days; I must have gold; much gold。  You alone can pay me for
the betrayal of Djalma; for you alone profit by it。  You refuse to hear
me; because you think I am deceiving you。  But I took the direction of
the inn where we stoppedand here it is。  Send some one to ascertain the
truth of what I tell you; and then you will believe me。  But the price of
my services will be high; for I told you that I wanted much。〃

So saying; Faringhea offered a printed card to Rodin: the socius; who;
out of the corner of his eye; followed all the half…caste's movements;
appeared to be absorbed in thought; and taking no heed of anything。

〃Here is the address;' repeated Faringhea; as he held out the card to
Rodin; 〃assure yourself that I do not lie。〃

〃Eh? what is it?〃 said the other; casting a rapid but stolen glance at
the address; which he read greedily; without touching the card。

〃Take this address;〃 repeated the half…caste; 〃and you may then assure
yourself〃

〃Really; sir;〃 cried Rodin; pushing back the card with his hand; 〃your
impudence confounds me。  I repeat that I wish to have nothing in common
with you。  For the last time; I tell you to leave the house。  I know
nothing about your Prince Djalma。  You say you can injure medo somake
no ceremoniesbut; in heaven's name; leave me to myself。〃

So saying; Rodin rang the bell violently。  Faringhea made a movement as
if to stand upon the defensive; but only the old servant; with his quiet
and placid mien; appeared at the door。

〃Lapierre; light the gentleman out;〃 said Rodin; pointing to Faringhea。

Terrified at Rodin's calmness; the half…caste hesitated to leave the
room。

〃Why do you wait; sir?〃 said Rodin; remarking his hesitation。  〃I wish to
be alone。〃

〃So; sir;〃 said Faringhea; as he withdrew; slowly; 〃you refuse my offers?
Take care! to…morrow it will be too late。〃

〃I have the honor to be your most humble servant; sir;〃 said Rodin;
bowing courteously。  The Strangler went out; and the door closed upon
him。

Immediately; Father d'Aigrigny entered from the next room。  His
countenance was pale and agitated。

〃What have you done?〃 exclaimed he addressing Rodin。

〃I have heard all。  I am unfortunately too sure that this wretch spoke
the truth。  The Indian is in his power; and he goes to rejoin him。〃

〃I think not;〃 said Rodin; humbly; as bowing; he reassumed his dull and
submissive countenance。

〃What will prevent this man from rejoining the prince?〃

〃Allow me。  As soon as the rascal was shown in; I knew him; and so;
before speaking a word to him; I wrote a few lines to Morok; who was
waiting below with Goliath till your reverence should be at leisure。
Afterwards; in the course of the conversation; when they brought me
Morok's answer; I added some fresh instructions; seeing the turn that
affairs were taking。〃

〃And what was the use of all this; since you have let the man leave the
house?〃

〃Your reverence will perhaps deign to observe that he did not leave it;
till he had given me the direction of the hotel where the Indian now is;
thanks to my innocent stratagem of appearing to despise him。  But; if it
had failed; Faringhea would still have fallen into the hands of Goliath
and Morok; who are waiting for him in the street; a few steps from the
door。  Only we should have been rather embarrassed; as we should not have
known where to find Prince Djalma。〃

〃More violence!〃 said Father d'Aigrigny; with repugnance。

〃It is to be regretted; very much regretted;〃 replied Rodin; 〃but it was
necessary to follow out the system already adopted。〃

〃Is that meant for a reproach?〃 said Father d'Aigrigny; who began to
think that Rodin was something more than a mere writing…machine。

〃I could not permit myself to blame your reverence;〃 said Rodin; cringing
almost to the ground。  〃But all that will be required is to confine this
man for twenty…four hours。〃

〃And afterwardshis complaints?〃

〃Such a scoundrel as he is will not dare to complain。  Besides; he left
this house in freedom。  Morok and Goliath will bandage his eyes when they
seize him。  The house has another entrance in the Rue Vieille…des…Ursins。
At this hour; and in such a storm; no one will be passing through this
deserted quarter of the town。  The knave will be confused by the change
of place; they will put him into a cellar; of the new building; and to…
morrow night; about the same hour; they will restore him to liberty with
the like precautions。  As for the East Indian; we now know where to find
him; we must send to him a confidential person; and; if he recovers from
his trance; there would be; in my humble opinion;〃 said Rodin; modestly;
〃a very simple and quiet manner of keeping him away from the Rue Saint…
Francois all day to…morrow。〃

The same servant with the mild countenance; who had introduced and shown
out Faringhea; here entered the room; after knocking discreetly at the
door。  He held in his hand a sort of game…bag; which he gave to Rodin;
saying: 〃Here is what M。 Morok has just brought; he came in by the Rue
Vieille。〃

The servant withdrew; and Rodin; opening the bag; said to Father
d'Aigrigny; as he showed him the contents: 〃The medal; and Van Dael's
letter。  Morok has been quick at his work。〃

〃One more danger avoided;〃 said the marquis; 〃it is a pity to be forced
to such measures。〃

〃We must only blame the rascal who has obliged us to have recourse to
them。  I will send instantly to the hotel where the Indian lodges。〃

〃And; at seven in the morning; you will conduct Gabriel to the Rue Saint…
Francois。  It is there that I must have with him the interview which he
has so earnestly demanded these three days。〃

〃I informed him of it this evening; and he awaits your orders。〃

〃At last; then;〃 said Father d'Aigrigny; 〃after so many struggles; and
fears; and crosses; only a few hours separate us from the moment which we
have so long desired。〃

We now conduct the reader to the house in the Rue Saint…Francois。

'13' The doctrine of passive and absolute obedience; the principal tool
in the hands of the Jesuits; as summed up in these terrible words of the
dying Loyolathat every member of the order should be in the hands of
his superiors as a dead body'perinde ad cadaver'。




CHAPTER XVII。

THE HOUSE IN THE RUE SAINT…FRANCOIS。

On entering the Rue Saint…Gervais; by the Rue Dore (in the Marais); you
would have found yourself; at the epoch of this narrative; directly
opposite to an enormously high wall; the stones of which were black and
worm…eaten with age。  This wall; which extended nearly the whole length
of that solitary street; served to support a terrace shaded by trees of
some hundred years old; which thus grew about forty feet above the
causeway。  Through their thick branches appeared the stone front; peaked
roof and tall brick chimneys of an antique house; the entrance of which
was situated in the Rue Saint…Francois; not far from the Rue Saint…
Gervais corner。  Nothing could be more gloomy than the exterior of this
abode。  On the entrance…side also was a very high wall; pierced with two
or three loop…holes; strongly grated。  A carriage gateway in massive oak;
barred with iron; and studded with large nail…heads; whose primitive
color disappeared beneath a thick layer of mud; dust; and rust; fitted
close into the arch of a deep recess; forming the swell of a bay window
above。  In one of these massive gates was a smaller door; which served
for ingress and egress to Samuel the Jew; the guardian of this dreary
abode。  On passing the threshold; you came to a passage; formed in the
building which faced in the street。  In this building was the lodging of
Samuel; with its windows opening upon the rather spacious inner court…
yard; through the railing of which you perceived the garden。  In the
middle of this garden stood a two…storied stone house; so strangely
built; that you had to mount a flight of steps; or rather a double…flight
of at least twenty steps; to reach the door; which had been walled up a
hundred and fifty years before。  The window…blinds of this habitation had
been replaced by large thick plates of lead; hermetically soldered and
kept in by frames of iron clamped in the stone。  Moreover; completely to
intercept air and light; and thus to guard against decay within and
without; the roof had been covered with thick sheets of lead; as well as
the vents of the tall chimneys; which had previously been bricked up。
The same precautions had been taken with respect to a small square
belvedere; situated on the top of the house; this glass cage was covered
with a sort of dome; soldered to the roof。  Only; in consequence of some
singular fancy; in every one of the leaden plates; which concealed the
four sides of the belvedere; corresponding to the cardinal points; seven
little round holes had been bored in the form of a cross; and were easily
distinguishable from the outside。  Everywhere else the plates of lead
were completely unpierced。  Thanks to these precautions; and to the
substantial structure of the building; nothing but a few outward repairs
had been necessary; and the apartments; entirely removed from the
influence of the external air; no doubt remained; during a century and a
half; exactly in the same state as at the time of their being shut up。
The aspect of walls in crevices; of broken; worm…eaten shutters; of a
roof half fallen in; and windows covered with wall…flowers; would perhaps
have been less sad than the appearance of this stone house; plated with
iron and lead; and preserved like a mausoleum。  The garden; completely
deserted; and only regularly visited once a week by Samuel; presented to
the view; particularly in summer; an incredible confusion of parasites
and brambles。  The trees; left to themselves; had shot forth and mingled
their branches in all directions; some straggling vines; r
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0
快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!